PMDC to introduce e-certificates for faster licence renewals

WEB DESK: Two months after the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) launched its updated online portal, the council’s president, Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, has directed the IT team to introduce e-certificates for licence renewals and Good Standing Certificates.

Prof. Dr. Taj highlighted that this initiative aims to provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for medical and dental professionals across the country. He stated, “These e-certificates will be issued promptly, ensuring that doctors experience minimal disruption in their practice.”

Under this new system, licence renewals are expected to be completed within 6-7 days, while Good Standing Certificates will be processed in just 1-2 days.

The upgraded digital infrastructure will enable the PMDC to manage up to 300-400 applications daily, significantly boosting operational efficiency.

Prof. Dr. Taj noted that the current manual process for issuing these certificates is not only time-consuming but also resource-intensive.

He explained that the digital initiative will streamline the process by replacing manual procedures and the mailing of hard copies with online submissions, electronic certificate generation, and direct digital delivery. These changes will incorporate enhanced security measures, ensuring the integrity of the documents.

The PMDC president further mentioned that this shift to digital technology would also reduce printing and mailing costs, cut down on paper usage, and offer a more convenient, transparent application process for professionals. The enhanced security features are also designed to prevent fraud and forgery.

Since the updated portal’s launch in June 2024, the PMDC has processed 17,524 renewal cases, with 16,692 successfully completed.

Additionally, 5,063 doctors and dentists applied for Good Standing Certificates, with 4,891 certificates already issued. These certificates are often required for international practice, job applications, or further education.

Prof. Dr. Taj expressed confidence that once the e-certification system is fully implemented, the processing time for licence renewals will be reduced to 6-7 days and that for Good Standing Certificates to just 1-2 days.

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